Where I'm From Poem

 

 I am from immigration,

from the building and rebuilding.

I am from my ancestors

who were restricted and bombed out of their homes. 

I am from my grandmother 

who rebuilt her life twice and immigrated to give her children and future grandchildren freedom.  

I am from the sugar maple 

glistening in the free golden summer sun. 

I am from my grandmother's kitchen, 

where there was always an aroma in the air.

I'm from her hand-wrapped dolmas 

which tasted like bundles of pure love and bliss. 

I’m from my brother's bedroom

 jumping from the highest height of the hard plastic play castle.

I’m from the snow

which made my nose and cheeks pink like blush.

I’m from my grandpa's radio,

 which scratched so much you couldn't even tell what you were listening to. 

I am from my toboggan

 which my dad dragged me on over every hill in the park. 

I am from the cottage, 

where the smell of algae and evergreens are the most vivid memories.

I am from my family,

which gave me love and a sense of belonging.

The boxes that were piling up near the doorway,

opened a new uncharted territory with a hidden future. 

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